Why is it so smoky in Tri-Cities today?

The Tri-Cities was inundated Friday afternoon as wind carried smoke from a new fire burning just west of the Benton County and Klickitat County border, south of Prosser.

A flurry of callers reported smoke to emergency dispatchers starting about 2:50 p.m. as choking haze overwhelmed the area.

The National Weather Service in Pendleton said a smoke plume emanating from the Alderdale Fire near Peterson in Eastern Klickitat County reached into the Tri-Cities, carried by south-southwest winds.

Klickitat County Emergency Services issued Level Three GO NOW and Level 2 GET SET evacuation alerts to the Alderdale area as the Alderdale Fire grew to about 1,000 acres.

The evacuation zone is north of the Columbia River, south of Prosser in the Horse Heaven Hills.

The Benton Clean Air Agency rated air quality on Friday at its Kennewick station on Metaline at 108 or unhealthy for senior groups.

Wendy Culverwell

Tri-City Herald

Reporter Wendy Culverwell writes about growth, development and business for the Tri-City Herald. She has worked for daily and weekly publications in Washington and Oregon. She earned a degree in English and economics from the University of Puget Sound. Support my work with a digital subscription